Disturbing forecast for NSW mining

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee has launched his state-wide tour in Broken Hill with a disturbing message that the NSW mining industry faces the loss of 29,000 jobs and $10.3 billion in investment over the next 20 years.

Mr Galilee says a detailed economic study has found that inefficiencies in the NSW Planning System could devastate the state's mining industry.

"The research shows that ... over the next 20 years, 29,000 jobs across the state, $10.3 billion in lost investment and $600 million a year in lost mining royalties," Mr Galilee said.

"These job losses are not just numbers.

"They are real people and real families now dealing with the loss of their livelihood," Mr Galilee continued.

Describing the current economic climate for miners as "the toughest conditions in 20 years", Mr Galilee forecast "shockwaves" for the NSW economy because mining remained the state's biggest export industry.

"It means lost jobs, lost investment and a loss of crucial mining revenue that helps fund infrastructure and services including hospitals, police, public transport and schools," Mr Galilee said.

"In the last six months, reports indicate that more than 1600 jobs have been lost in NSW mining (but) the industry estimates that the unreported figure is possibly twice that.

"These significant economic costs are most keenly felt in our key mining regions like the Hunter and the Illawarra and the local communities near where mining takes place," Mr Galilee continued.

According to Mr Galilee, $61 million was spent on mining operations in Broken Hill last year, with the flow-on effects boosting the local economy by $63 million.

The research findings from PricewaterhouseCoopers form part of the NSW Minerals Council's submission on the NSW Government's draft review of the NSW Planning system.

Mr Galilee's 2013 NSW Mining Road and Rail Tour will take in a number of mining communities in western and central areas of the state and will also promote the NSW Mineral Council's new website 'Voice For Mining'.

Mineral sands miner Cristal Mining is the only Broken Hill-based member of the NSW Mineral Council.